JP3161863B2 - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having means for controlling the control state of a vacuum cleaner body including an electric blower using an optical remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a vacuum cleaner has a concept of determining whether or not a hose is connected using a conductive wire provided inside a hose, and a method of determining whether or not a hose is connected using information on an optical fiber provided inside the hose. In addition, there is a method of judging the presence or absence of the hose connection in a vacuum cleaner having a structure in which the power of the vacuum cleaner is turned on and off at hand using a radio wave.

[0003]

However, a type in which a conductive wire or an optical fiber is provided inside a hose not only requires many steps for manufacturing the hose, but also requires a large number of steps.
In particular, a hose provided with a conductive wire is heavy and has a disadvantage that operability during vacuum cleaner operation is poor.

On the other hand, when the power of the vacuum cleaner is turned on and off by hand using radio waves, it is possible to reduce the weight of the hose, but in the current social environment, extraneous noise is extremely large, and these extraneous noises are present. The possibility that the vacuum cleaner malfunctions due to noise is included.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for many steps in the manufacture of a hose provided with a conductive wire or an optical fiber, and to be lighter than a hose provided with a conductive wire, and to be used during operation of a vacuum cleaner. Excellent operability, while eliminating the need to deal with a large amount of external noise, unlike a vacuum cleaner that uses a radio wave to turn on and off the vacuum cleaner at hand. In order to control the vacuum cleaner using this optical remote control, it is not necessary to prepare for cleaning, that is, even though the plug of the main body of the vacuum cleaner is connected to the outlet. not, hose eliminates the erroneous operation in the case where or not connected to the cleaner body, or the connection has or is incomplete, such as temperature anomaly <br/> rise due to erroneous cleaner drive safely It is to provide a vacuum cleaner that does not cause a problem.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an electric motor
Having a blower and control means for controlling the electric blower
A cleaner body, and a hose connected to the cleaner body,
An extension tube connected to the hose, and an extension tube connected to the extension tube
A suction port, and a cleaning device disposed at a hose hand portion of the hose.
Switch to input operation information for controlling the operation of the
Switch means and operation information input by the switch means in red.
Infrared light emitting means for transmitting on an outside line, and
Receiving the signal from the infrared light emitting means and
The vacuum cleaner having infrared receiving means for transmitting to the control means.
Check the hose connection port of the main body for the connection of the hose.
Hose detecting means for disconnecting the hose is provided, and the control means
According to the hose connection information from the
The signal from the line light emitting means is invalidated.

[0007]

According to the present invention, the operation of the cleaner body is controlled.
In vacuum cleaners that transmit operation information via infrared,
When not ready, i.e.
Home is connected to the outlet
Is not connected to the vacuum cleaner, or
Incomplete operation of the vehicle can be eliminated.
Wear.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a check valve and a suction port packing 32 which also serves as a seal for a filter support portion 31 of the paper bag filter 7, and connects the hose 23 to the cleaner body.

A main body for driving the electric blower 15 and an electric blower 15 sandwiched and supported by a motor chamber formed by an upper case 10 and a lower case 13 are provided in a main body of the cleaner arranged at a stage subsequent to the hose port 4. A driving circuit 11 comprising a power supply circuit, a front packing 14 and a rear packing 40 for supporting the electric blower 15, and a sound absorbing material 16 comprising a cylindrical air-permeable sponge covering the electric blower 15. Is arranged.

An upper case 10 is provided on the upper surface of the electric blower 15.
A handle (not shown) is rotatably mounted via the.

In front of the electric blower 15, the electric blower 1
Triac element for controlling phase of 5 (not shown)
Are mounted integrally with the radiation fins 33.

A cord 1 with a plug for supplying electric power
8 is a code reel device 21 and a code reel button 30
And it is attached so that it can be rolled freely.

The cord reel device 21 includes an electric blower 15
An exhaust filter 20 for capturing fine dust contained in exhaust air from the electric blower 15 is located behind the exhaust filter 20. An exhaust port 19 is located behind the exhaust filter 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the space surrounded by the exhaust filter 20 and the electric blower 15, a component pocket (not shown) for accommodating a clearance suction opening (not shown) is provided. A pocket lid (not shown) is attached to the component pocket so as to be freely opened and closed.

A dust collecting chamber 34 is formed between the upper case 10 and the lower case 13 in front of the electric blower 15.

Inside the dust collecting chamber 34, a paper bag filter 7 is provided.
Has been fixed.

An indicator (not shown) is provided on a part of the upper case 10.

The lower case 13 has casters 8,
A wheel 17 is provided at the rear.

In FIG. 4 showing the overall structure of an embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 25 denotes an inlet, 26 is an extension tube, 35 is an optical remote control light transmitting / receiving control unit 35 (abbreviated as an optical remote controller) for giving an operation command, and 28 is an optical remote controller. A bent tube integrating the light emitting portions 27 and 29, 23 is a hose, 24 is a hose joint, 10 is an upper case, 13 is a lower case, and 17 is a wheel.

The hose section does not need to incorporate a signal line or a power line, and a seal ring 3 is provided at both ends of a lightweight hose 23 without a core line via a stopper ring 38.
A spiral hose is screwed into and fixed to 7, and a bent tube 28 is rotatably mounted on one side, and a hose joint 24 is rotatably mounted on the other side, and is detachably mounted via a stopper ring 38.

The circuit of this embodiment is as shown in FIG.
Broadly divided into two blocks, the signal transmission processing between both blocks is performed by infrared light, and the hose joint 24 has a primary, secondary or solar cell as an independent DC power supply,
Or a remote control circuit that uses a generator that uses the flow of air in the vacuum cleaner hose to convert the strong, medium, weak, and auto switching signals of the vacuum cleaner into signals for remote control. Light-emitting element 27 for converting into a digital signal,
The light emitting elements 27 and 29 include, for example, an infrared light emitting diode and an ultrasonic transmitter.

Drive circuit 11 incorporated in the cleaner body
The electric blower 15 is operated in accordance with an operation instruction of the main controller 36, with a main controller 36 composed of an integrated circuit (single-chip microcomputer) in which storage, arithmetic and input / output interface circuits and the like are integrally configured. The electric blower drive circuit for controlling the output of the electric blower 15 using a power control element such as the above, a power supply circuit for supplying power to each control circuit, and a control state or abnormality of the cleaner main body with an LED or a buzzer. A display circuit for displaying (temperature, filter clogging), a current rotation speed sensor module for performing input and rotation speed control, a temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature of the electric blower 15, and a filter clogging device. Perform automatic operation control (neuro & fuzzy) by judging load conditions A pressure sensor module, a sensor for confirming the hose attachment in charge of sensing of the present embodiment, and a direct light or an indirect light emitted from the optical remote control transmission / reception controller as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 into the air. And a circuit for receiving the infrared light signal.

In the above configuration, the dust sucked from the suction port and the suction air flow pass through the extension pipe 26 due to the suction air flow generated by the electric blower 15 in the dust collection chamber 34 located in front of the cleaner body. The dust collecting chamber 3 passes through the bent pipe 28 and the hose 23, and passes through the hose opening 4 at the front center of the upper case 10 which is attached to the front of the cleaner body so as to be openable and closable.
It is sucked into 4.

In the dust collection chamber 34, dust and airflow are separated by a paper bag filter 7 attached to the hose port 4 via a suction packing 32, and the dust is collected in the paper bag filter 7.

The airflow separated from the dust breaks the paper bag filter 7 attached to the front of the electric blower 15 in the dust collection chamber 34, and when the coarse dust leaks, the electric blower 1
In order to protect the filter 5, it passes through a protection filter 12 which is set relatively coarsely, and is sucked into the electric blower 15.

The air flow sucked into the electric blower 15 is discharged from the housing opening at the rear of the electric blower 15 into the vacuum cleaner.

Next, the intake air discharged from the housing opening of the electric blower 15 cools the flagged cord 18 of the cord reel device 21, passes through the exhaust filter 20 to separate and collect fine dust, and the exhaust port 19. Is discharged from

In the embodiment, the electric blower 15 of the electric vacuum cleaner controlled by the microcomputer or the like is operated by the main controller 36 in the main body of the cleaner in accordance with the instruction of the main controller 36 and the information from the various sensors. The electric blower 15 is controlled to an optimum control state through a circuit. The bent tube 28 at the end of the hose 23 has an optical remote control light transmission / reception control unit 35 for instructing the operation state of the vacuum cleaner. Instruction of the vacuum cleaner control by button operation.

The instruction given by the button operation is converted into a digital electric signal, and the light emitting units 27 and 28 of the optical remote controller 35 emit infrared light as direct or indirect light.

On the vacuum cleaner main body side, digital control information is transmitted to a microprocessor and peripheral input / output circuits through a sensor for detecting infrared light by a light receiving section 9 of an optical remote controller provided on the main body case surface. The program and the control data are stored in the main controller 36 comprising a storage device such as a RAM or a ROM for storing the control data, and the control state is detected and controlled.

In this case, a hose detection sensor for determining whether or not the hose 23 is connected is attached to the hose port 4 to which the hose 23 is connected.

As shown in the embodiment, the hose detection sensor includes an optical sensor having a sensor light emitting unit 1 and a sensor light receiving unit 2, a sensor using a Hall element for detecting magnetism, and a contact switch such as a micro SW. A signal from a hose detection sensor is input to the main controller 36, and a cleaner operation command from the cordless transmission / reception control unit 35 is transmitted to the main controller. 36,
Conditions are set in the circuit or program so that the operation command is not transmitted to the motor drive circuit.

As the circuit system, an AND or NAND
Or a logic circuit such as an interrupt signal control of a microprocessor. For example, the input of the various sensors may be set as an interrupt program of a microcomputer,
Set a flag on the / O port and constantly monitor the flag,
The flag is weighted to control the vacuum cleaner more safely.

As inputs to the controller, a signal from an optical remote controller, a signal from a hose detection sensor, a hose storage hook provided on the outer periphery of the cleaner body for judging that the hose has been stored with the hose connected, an extension pipe holding hook, and a suction port The logical AND of the signals of the holding hooks and one or more sensors that cause some physical change due to their holding is determined by a logic circuit, and it is determined that the main body storage state or the cleaning operation has been temporarily suspended. In addition, the control signal from the optical remote controller is refused and the vacuum cleaner is not started.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the vacuum cleaner from being erroneously started by an instruction from the optical remote controller when the preparation for cleaning is not completed.

After cleaning is completed, accidents such as heating and smoking due to unattended operation can be prevented by an optical remote control signal or noise from the same model from an adjacent house when the power plug is forgotten to be connected to the outlet.

Further, as another embodiment, a state sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, or the like detects abnormalities such as a fall of the vacuum cleaner, abnormal heating, and clogging of a filter, and a logical relationship with the operation command of the optical remote controller. The product may be calculated by a logic circuit, and the vacuum cleaner may not be started by rejecting the control signal from the optical remote controller.

In this case, what kind of abnormality has occurred and whether the cleaner main body does not accept the instruction of the optical remote controller can be determined by a display device on the surface of the main body case, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or an illuminated display by an LED. The abnormal location can be notified by a sound or a message voice by voice synthesis.

According to the present embodiment, even when the operation of the vacuum cleaner is abnormal except for the preparation for cleaning, control acceptance of the optical remote controller can be refused, the operation can be returned to the standby state before the operation, and the abnormal operation location can be accurately displayed. , Help in recovery.

In another embodiment, the optical remote controller can be controlled bidirectionally to send a signal from the cleaner body to the optical remote controller using the optical remote controller signal to display the status at hand.

At this time, when the hose is not securely connected to the cleaner body, when the start switch of the cleaner body or the operation unit is operated, the connection state of the hose in the cleaner body or the operation unit is displayed. You will be notified by a lamp or sound.

According to the present embodiment, the connection state of the hose can be confirmed by the cleaner main body or the optical remote control operation unit, and the trouble caused by the start of the cleaning operation with incomplete connection, that is, breakage of the hose or abnormal leakage There is an effect that generation of a sound can be prevented.

As another embodiment, at least one battery for power supply to the optical remote controller or at least one power supply connection from the solar power to the optical remote control circuit is connected to the main body of the hose to form a contact edge. The power supply line can be electrically connected by connecting a hose to connect a short side of the cleaner body to the optical remote controller, thereby supplying power to the optical remote controller.

According to the present embodiment, power is not supplied to the optical remote controller unless the hose is connected to the main body, so that safety such as prevention of useless consumption of the battery and prevention of erroneous operation at the time of dumping dust is ensured. There is.

According to another embodiment, in a central cleaner 44 of a pipe 42 type having a plurality of suction ports 4, the same number of reception receivers 9 of the plurality of optical remote controllers 35 as those of the respective inlets 41 or n times the number thereof are provided. The light receiving unit 9 is installed in the XY (two-dimensional) or XYZ (three-dimensional) direction near each room and each inlet 41 installation location, and the connection of the hose 23 to the inlet 41 attached to the tip of the pipe is determined whether the hose 23 is connected or not. The central cleaner 44 is controlled by determining the logical sum based on the signal of an optical or contact type sensor (sensor light receiving unit 2 and sensor light emitting unit 1) provided in the unit, and calculating the logical product with the signal of the optical remote controller 35. Has the function of
Sensors 1 and 2 for judging the presence or absence of a hose 23 provided at a hose 23 connection part of each inlet 41 and inlet 4
The signal of the reception light receiving unit 9 of the optical remote controller 35 in the room where the hose 1 is located or the operating range of the hose 23 is determined.
When either the connection confirmation sensor of the hose 23 or the optical remote control signal is a signal from an unrelated room,
A pipe 42 type vacuum cleaner which is controlled not to receive the control signal of the optical remote controller 35, and the optical remote control light emitting section 1 at the tip of the hose 23 is operated, and is always in a constant (light receiving element 9) direction using gravity or the like. It can also be a structure suitable for.

According to this embodiment, since the hose does not require a control cord, the weight of the hose can be reduced and the hose can be softened. This has the effect of making it easier.

Further, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent malfunction due to noise from another room during cleaning, and to prevent a rise in temperature due to malfunction when all the inlets are closed while going out or the like.

Further, since the light receiving section of the optical remote controller is attached to each inlet in the XY or XYZ directions, control errors can be prevented.

According to another embodiment, the information obtained from the hose detection sensor is used to transmit information to the main controller 36 for driving the electric blower 15 so that the original vacuum cleaner can be stored and stored before cleaning is completed. As shown in FIG. 13, a part of the software of the controller to prevent a malfunction due to the noise from the optical remote controller or the other, and a false signal from another product optical remote controller, as shown in FIG. A program for discriminating the state by a signal from the sensor may be provided.

According to this embodiment, although the cleaner is not ready for cleaning, the cleaner starts to move due to electromagnetic noise or mischief of a child of the optical remote controller, and a PS accident (major disaster) such as injury or burnout occurs. There is an effect that can be prevented.

According to another embodiment, the presence or absence of a hose connection,
As shown in FIG. 11, the vacuum cleaner is operated for a short time at the beginning of each operation mode, and the load state is shown in FIG. Detects with a pressure sensor, air flow sensor, current sensor, rotation speed sensor, etc. at a judgment level that indicates a judgment example and makes no load or abnormal load judgment.If there is no load or abnormal load, operation from the optical remote control A program that does not accept commands can be provided to control the vacuum cleaner.

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to judge the state by using a conventionally installed sensor without adding a new sensor, which is cost effective.

According to another embodiment, the presence or absence of the connection of the hose is used for a contact type sensor such as a micro switch 46 as shown in FIG. 15 or a conventional vacuum cleaner as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. A plurality of contact pins 39 and the contact side 2
By the combination with 2, the contact is electrically closed by the reliable connection of the hose to the cleaner body, and current flows through the circuit,
Directly this phenomenon (direct ON / OFF of the circuit)
Alternatively, a sensing device (such as a current transformer sensor) for indirect detection may be attached, and the operation command from the optical remote controller may be controlled by the signal.

According to this embodiment, there is an effect that the reliability of the hose connection can be mechanically detected.

Further, since a large current can be passed through the sensor and the primary power can be directly turned on and off, there is an effect that the remote controller when the hose is not connected and PS measures against noise can be performed at low cost.

According to another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the presence or absence of a person or other obstacle around the cleaner is determined by non-contact of ultrasonic waves or light or contact of pressure-sensitive switch 45 or the like. It is detected by a sensor of the type, etc.
It is also possible to control the contents of instructions to the cleaner body of the optical remote controller.

According to the present embodiment, the present invention is an effective countermeasure for PS in an optical remote control vacuum cleaner of a cordless vacuum cleaner using a solar cell or a battery as driving energy in the future.

Further, when it is necessary to release the operation unit during cleaning, there is an effect that it is possible to temporarily control the standby state or to prevent an obstacle from being changed due to hitting an obstacle or a runaway. According to another embodiment, information is transmitted to a main controller 36 for driving the electric blower 15 based on information obtained from a sensor that determines whether or not the hose 23 is connected, and the information is transmitted to a device other than the optical remote controller of the original vacuum cleaner. As shown in FIG. 13, a program for identification is provided in a part of software of the main controller 36 and a hose is connected to the main controller 36 so as to prevent a malfunction from a noise from the remote controller or an erroneous signal from another product optical remote controller. One or more of the hose storage hooks, extension holding hooks, and suction holding hooks provided on the outer periphery of the cleaner body and any part that causes any physical Attach a contact or non-contact sensor that outputs that cleaning tools have been held. In other words, when the input of each sensor and the output from any one of the sensors are output, the control signal from the optical remote controller is negated, and the control of rejecting the start of the vacuum cleaner or stopping the operation can be performed. .

According to the present embodiment, applied parts can be attached without removing the hose at the time of storage, and it is possible to cope with noise and malfunction of the remote controller even when stored in the simple storage section of the cleaner body.

In another embodiment, a controller for driving the electric blower according to the information obtained from the sensor provided at the suction port according to the present invention is used to drive the electric blower while waiting and storing the noise from other than the optical remote controller of the vacuum cleaner, or other noise. Control to prevent malfunction due to erroneous signal from product optical remote control,
Further, as shown in FIG. 20, abnormalities such as overturning of the vacuum cleaner, abnormal heating, and clogging of the filter are detected by one or more state sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, and the like connected to the controller. A mechanism for controlling a logical product with the operation command information from the optical remote controller may be provided.

According to the present embodiment, the control contents of the optical remote controller can be accurately determined based on internal information such as the temperature, pressure, rotation speed, etc. in the main body other than whether the hose can be connected or not. Has the advantage that a safer vacuum cleaner can be provided.

[0063] In another embodiment, a structure for conducting the connection of a power supply battery to the light remote control, or the one to as little of the power supply wiring to the light remote control circuit from the solar cell to the hose of the cleaner body You can also.

According to this embodiment, power consumption of the optical remote controller can be suppressed, and at the same time, safety can be ensured because the vacuum cleaner cannot be operated unless a hose is connected to the main body.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, unlike a hose provided with a conductive wire or an optical fiber, it does not require many steps for its manufacture, is lighter in weight than a hose provided with a conductive wire, and has a vacuum cleaner. Excellent operability when driving, but does not have to deal with a great deal of extraneous noise like a vacuum cleaner that turns the vacuum cleaner on and off using radio waves, and has a limited proximity wavelength In order to control the vacuum cleaner using this optical remote control, only the external noise should be dealt with, and the cleaner is not ready for cleaning, that is, the plug of the cleaner body is connected to the outlet Nevertheless, if the hose is not connected to the cleaner body or the connection is incomplete, the malfunction will be eliminated and the temperature due to the malfunction of the cleaner will be eliminated.
A vacuum cleaner that does not cause a safety problem such as abnormal rise can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a main part of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a circuit block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of software according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a control characteristic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of software according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a circuit block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a partial sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a circuit block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a circuit block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a circuit block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Sensor light-emitting part, 2 ... Sensor light-receiving part, 4 ... Hose mouth, 7 ... Paper bag filter, 11 ... Drive circuit, 15 ... Electric blower, 21 ... Cord reel device, 23 ... Hose, 2
8 ... Bent tube, 35 ... Optical remote control transmission / reception control unit.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An electric blower and an electric blower are controlled inside.
Cleaner body having control means for performing cleaning, and the cleaner
Hose connected to the body and extension connected to the hose
A pipe, a suction port connected to the extension pipe, and a hose
To control the operation of the main body of the vacuum cleaner.
Switch means for inputting operation information for
Infrared emission that transmits the operation information input in the step by infrared
Means, and the infrared light emitting means disposed on the cleaner body
Receiving an infrared signal and transmitting the signal to the control means.
Light means, and the hose connection port of the cleaner body is connected to the hose.
Hose detection means for determining the presence or absence of
The means is responsive to hose connection information from the hose detection means.
Vacuuming the signal from the infrared light emitting means .